PainLove - Bk. 03 - Ch. 27-32

Chapter 27

Helena grimaced. "The question about a child was a mistake. He was right about the time and place for a question like that. The frame, well, he has us, doesn't he? No point in searching for the switch, it's well hidden, he does nothing by halves."

Cathy asked, "Michelle, did you intend a golden shower?"

"Yes, it was on the list of suggestions."

"He's been clear for months it was a limit. Just a week ago he had a terrible experience on that very frame. It's why there's a cutout now being used. Whose idea was it to press the point right after his last experience?"

Michelle was surprised. "What? I'd have not gone in that direction had I known! It appears he kept me out of trouble." She turned to Helena. "You and Marion certainly didn't."

Upstairs, Rob dressed quickly. A long walk in the fresh air with his dogs would do him good. He was hungry, he hadn't eaten anything yet. In the kitchen he grabbed a chunk of bread and a bottle of water. He took the dogs out the kitchen door. This was a change to the familiar routine for the dogs. They stopped to look back to the house; he walked further and further. He had to change his setting, go to a place where the session this morning, the upcoming engagement party with its obligations, could be trivial and unimportant. What was the fuss about, signing a contract? He should have done it at a notary's office, then he wouldn't have to do what he was expected to do. He thought of horny women pushing their cunts at him for service, laughing at cost of his dignity. Even the ones he didn't service would know how many women were having him that evening.

He heard fast footsteps and loud panting behind him. It was Michelle, Boris running beside her. Nothing about her matched the Mistress who had been tormenting him only minutes before. In trousers, a thick jumper and a coat, she was just an ordinary woman with a dog.

"Helena told me this is direction you usually go. I missed the chance to ask you to wait for me."

Rob wasn't settled enough to filter his response. "I left by myself intentionally. I need to be alone for a time. I'm surprised Helena didn't understand that."

She looked surprised, but quickly recovered. "Excuse me, I do understand. Our session ended awkwardly, I didn't have an opportunity to help you cool down. Shall I do that now?"

"No."

Michelle gave him a nod and turned to take Boris in a different direction.

He looked at her retreating form with some satisfaction, aware his words had been petty revenge for the morning. He knew he'd hurt her feelings. Well, it was the risk she took. Piss off, he thought. He chuckled. Just never piss on me!

Apparently she was a friend of Helena and therefore likely Marion was her friend as well. That didn't automatically make him her friend, quite the contrary. Stalking him out dog-walking didn't speak well for her either. He walked on, wondering if Helena had known Michelle from before their chance meeting in Oxford.

When the dogs saw Boris walking away they wanted to go along but a command from Rob kept them at his heels. He turned in a direction directly away from Michelle.

When he thought it was far enough he started to throw sticks. He wandered, letting the dogs and his random throws choose his direction. After nearly an hour walking, he was feeling more settled.

With his dogs in a tugging match over a stick, Boris appeared, then Michelle. "If you still want me to stay away, I'll go, Rob."

"No, stay. Michelle, I'm sorry, I hadn't settled myself yet." He didn't want to be too rude to her.

"Ron, I'm sorry as well. Helping you return to the real world is my responsibility. I should have given you some after-care. The entire session was awkward, it ended suddenly, I didn't do some of the things I normally do." He didn't respond, he was looking about for sticks to throw. She looked at him oddly; after a pause she asked, "Don't you like me?"

"What sort of a question is that? Like you? We're just acquaintances. You don't know me at all, you can't possibly have a reason to find me special."

"I find you fascinating, I want to get to know you better."

"I'm engaged to Helena; soon I must sign a contract with three more women as not-quite-wives. I have far too many women in my life already. I don't want more, I want fewer. Is it necessary I like you?"

"I hope so. I expect Helena has already mentioned I am to be your training mistress. You and I will seek new paths. The lessons learned will come back to Marion and Helena. At least that's the plan Helena, Marion and I have settled on."

Still another surprise. Why hadn't Helena told him? "She hasn't said a thing. You've been set up again, at further cost to your credibility."

Michelle grimaced.

"You'll take me as your slave or whatever you want to call it?"

"Not slave. Play partner. Bottom. I'll take you as far as you want to go in your training. You'll like it, all of it, of that I am certain. We'll reach much more together than you ever could reach with Marion or Helena. Don't you understand? Think about this morning, you were really afraid my whip was going to leave marks. But what happened? A little flame of some brief pain, that's all. Yes, I gave you twelve blows with the cane. I imagine you hit the women much more severely. I do give pain, but in a subtle way."

He turned, looking her in the eye. He looked angry. "The total of all the blows with a cane to those four ladies, to anyone at all in my entire life, is exactly zero! Zero! Did you ask Helena?"

"I didn't see a reason to ask."

"So, what they say is take for truth and my words aren't credible. You're making it easy to decline your training.

"Listen, all of them can tell you they saw no marks on any of the others. My prank was too convincing. I've been hit, what, twenty strokes so far, for those canings that didn't happen! I'm sure there will be another three or four more episodes of retribution before Marion is satisfied."

"Let's get back to your training, Rob."

"No, Michelle. It simply isn't your place to discuss this with me. This is another stupid idea Helena cooked up, no doubt goaded by Marion. As usual I have no say in the matter. Helena must answer for this, not you."

"Listen Rob: last week their fear of how you might behave when something bad happens again was really amplified. It will be an accident or a misunderstanding, these little events are never intentional. Still, things can go wrong, especially since they are themselves novices. But you overreact. That's why they asked me to train you."

"Of course, they never take responsibility, those two. Listen, I didn't experience a little event last week. The event itself isn't why I left the house. I have another safeword with Helena, cruel. I made it perfectly clear, in fact Helena can play the video for you, if I say the word 'cruel,' she must stop everything and make it right, in the instant. When they were drowning me in their piss," he said each word with emphasis. "I called out cruel. They didn't stop and make it right, they didn't rescue me. No, they toddled away, laughing. They didn't even fully release me from the damned frame, just one hand. I was flat on my back with their piss filling my nose, in my lungs, trying to get myself loose. I didn't leave because of anger, Michelle. I stayed here that night; they had a chance to come to me and make amends.

"As for my leaving in over-reaction, I left the next morning because my absence is the defined consequence of not responding to me when I say cruel. But I agree this incident wasn't intentional, that's exactly what worries me most: how careless, how negligent they are."

Rob may have intended to smile, Michelle saw a grimace. "Now you know exactly why there's a cutout switch on power to the frame."

"Is that what happened?"

"Did they not tell you the story?"

"Just a summary. After-care is important, something I should expect them to know."

He looked at his wristwatch. "We've been out for a time, I'm getting cold, I expect the dogs are cold as well. Let's go back in."

As they neared the house, Rob glanced at Michelle. She seemed worried. He felt he had to clear the air with her. "Listen, Michelle, you seem disappointed we didn't click. It's not you. Those four ladies, still in the house, with their bloody stupid questions, are far more responsible than either you or I." After a pause, he added, "mostly Marion, the one who wanted you to do the watersports game on the frame with me."

"Thank you, I appreciate you saying it's okay between us. It's - it's something else."

"Anything I can help with?"

"I may ask for your help. It's just Helena surely thinks I owe her a big favor, giving me the opportunity to do a session with you."

She was shocked when Rob laughed. Seeing her hurt expression, he was quick to explain. "Your position may be better than you realize. She was only just lecturing me on what a big favor you were doing for her."

"Really?" Rob could see her relief.

Helena greeted them as they came in the kitchen door, a smile on her face. "Did you have a good chat?" Beckoning, she led them to follow her out into the main hall.

Rob answered as he came in. "We've had an interesting conversation, if we ignore the issues you've created for yourself."

If she heard his words, she didn't react at all. It seemed to Rob more likely she hadn't heard him.

"Michelle is no ordinary woman." Helena put her hand on Michelle's shoulder. "Over the past week, ever since you left us, she and I have talked a lot about how to get through to you, without you walking away. We discussed S&M, our relationship and our future. Michelle and Cathy are impressed with how this latest challenge has worked out. Rob, they're also impressed with how well you took the session."

Rob's expression hardened, he thought Helena was once again underestimating her role in creating the problem.

Helena's next words showed him otherwise. "When you return after a separation, Rob, you hear us blame you for deciding to leave, we say the necessary correction must come from you. Michelle caught us saying it; she has shown us the error in our thinking. First Cathy and now Michelle have really clarified for me how much I must learn. Marion and I are quite clear on what we've done wrong, we understand now what you mean when you say you leave because you've been pushed out."

"I caught you at it again," Michelle added. "As we were walking just now, Rob described his experience when you tested the frame. His experience was quite different from what I heard from Marion. I must say, Helena, you should spend more time and attention on after-care."

Helena frowned. "That's exactly what Rob said."

"And he was right!"

Chapter 28

Helena led them upstairs as the conversation continued.

"Rob, Michelle will join us here on occasion, to act as our private Supreme Mistress. I must admit, I have never seen anybody handle the whip like she did this morning. I could see it gave you the pain you wanted, yet she left hardly a trace. I want to learn her skills."

Helena's led them into her big room. "Let's shower together." In Helena's bathroom they all undressed. Rob was in the shower well before the women. The hot stream felt good, both to help relieve the lingering sensations from his session and to warm him after the long walk in the chilly morning. Helena and Michelle joined him, it seemed to them quite natural for the three of them to be together. This time, he found Helena's oversized shower crowded with just the three of them. In no mood to play, he left the shower shortly after the women stepped in.

Michelle joined them for lunch, making five women and Rob. He would have happily spent the entire meal without saying a word, but Helena had other ideas. "Rob, I understand your session with Michelle was wonderful, tell us about it."

He looked at her, puzzled. "I thought you were watching. You and Cathy each appeared quickly enough, you had to be at the door. What makes you say it was wonderful?"

"Sorry, Rob, I guess it was a leading question. After a session, Michelle has taught me, I must ask you about it. What was good about your scene this morning?"

Rob looked down. There was a long silence, then he dropped his soup spoon with a clatter into the bowl. "The reason I can't name anything good about the session is all the bollocks woven through it. I was asked questions long settled." He glared around the table. "I was asked bloody foolish questions that gave me a sour attitude, because some women of this group can't accept reality. I was asked questions you don't ask a man naked and in bondage."

"Rob, what questions like this were you asked?' Marion's voice had an air of innocence.

His eyes locked on hers. "I was asked about piercing again. If you want me to take a position in Singapore, just keep on that line. Yes, I have been looking into employment opportunities overseas."

Michelle had to defend herself. "Rob, it can't have been all bad. You enjoyed being whipped."

"Who told you I enjoy pain at all? I put up with a little pain because that's what a play session entails. I don't recall telling anyone I like it." It was time to put this caning business out in the open. "I know none of you like pain either. That's why none of you - none of you! - were caned at the end of your Saturday of punishment."

"No," Marion said. "You caned all of us!"

"Did I cane you that night? Tell me exactly how many times I hit you with a cane, Marion."

She didn't answer.

"Helena?"

Helena looked away, she too not responding.

"Cathy?"

Cathy's calmly met his angry eyes. "Rob you have never hit me and I never believed you hit the others. I thought the illusion was executed beautifully."

Kim gave him a smile. "I'm still angry you didn't hit me."

Michelle wanted clear answers. "Helena, Marion, did Rob cane you, yes or no?"

Helena said, "no" while Marion shook her head.

Rob returned his focus to Marion. "How many times have you attempted to cane me in response to my success at fooling you? How many of you have hit me with a cane for it, had another hit me, knowing I'd never hit you? I thought we'd agreed bringing up past events as an excuse to punish me in a session is a bad idea. And you wonder why I'm not sure I'll stay."

He stood, dropping his napkin on his chair. "Thank you for the exquisite session, Michelle. It was the absolute pinnacle of my experience as a submissive. I have every reason to expect no session after today will rise to the standard of this morning." He turned to Helena. "You've created more issues for yourself. It's for you to work them out." He left.

After a stunned silence, Michelle turned to Helena. "When communication is an issue, I generally start by asking why the submissive is not speaking up. It seems to me we have the opposite: Rob is forthright, even blunt. It appears you aren't listening when Rob tells you something important."

As they were leaving the lunch table, Rob reappeared, asking Michelle if she had time to talk. Helena was surprised when he asked her to join them as well in her library.

Once they were inside he closed the doors and immediately began to speak. "Helena, I've heard from Michelle you intend to send me to her for training. Once again, you act as though I have nothing to say about my own life. You decide what I want. You talk with others about me. Why can you not talk with me about these things?"

Helena suddenly stopped; she quickly sat on a chair as though shocked. Her face was suddenly grave.

"You've again surprised me, and made a promise you expect me to honor. I think this time I shall go out of my way to not keep your promise. You told me I must promise to obey. If you want obedience, try not surprising me with still another capricious decision.

"Here's the central point this time. I thought we were planning to marry so we could do this together. I was enjoying the notion you and I have a relationship. Now you've appointed someone else to stand in for you in part of our relationship. You push me away from you."

Marion looked from Helena to Rob. "What's going on?"

"You and Helena seem to have decided I must have a new Mistress. Still another damned mistress." He spread his arms. "When will you ask me if I am willing?"

"But Rob, you had such a good experience with Michelle this morning, I should think you'd be happy to train with her!"

Rob turned to Michelle. "Would you say I had a good experience with you this morning?"

To his surprise, she took his side. "Honestly, Helena, I don't understand how you can say Rob had a good time. He certainly never said it during the session, in point of fact he called me out multiple times for false premises. Premises," she added in a stern voice, "supplied by Marion and you."

She turned to Rob. "Rob, I am mortified I caned you as punishment for a caning they never received. Had I known, I'd have never done it. I'm grateful you told me the effect on my credibility. Further, I agree with you completely: we may choose to punish within a session, but we do not bring old baggage to a session as the reason for a punishment. I regret I didn't notice that premise myself. I prepared very carefully for you.

"The question, Rob, is did I give you a reason to avoid future sessions with me?"

"That's not the question, Michelle. This isn't about you, it's on Helena." He turned to Helena. "Am I an employee in your corporation, that you can delegate responsibility over me to someone else? Tell me why you aren't the one putting effort into our relationship. I've told you clearly, if there is someone to be called mistress, it should be you, my wife, no one else."

Michelle tried to take control of the discussion. "Rob, it's not that simple. Here's our thinking -"

Eyes still on Helena, he cut her off with a hand held up. "I asked Helena a question."

Helena looked away, then back to Rob. "I'm worried about making a mistake. I shall always worry my next mistake will make you leave forever."

He sounded more disappointed than angry. "Worry instead that not talking with me about it is your next mistake, already underway. Talk with me! Let's work on your worries together, don't send me out to a surrogate. I can understand mistakes, if you hit me too hard, I'll tell you. All you must do is acknowledge what I've said and we can move on. Helena, the mistakes that make me leave you, have been so much bigger than hitting me too hard! When you decided to piss on my face, you didn't just make a mistake. You violated a limit. It could have ended there, you could have made it right, but you failed to see to my safety. Again."

"We think it would be better if you learned to better fit your role independently, just as Marion and I must learn to better perform our role." Helena wasn't really responding to his questions.

"Not two days ago you said there were no plans for me. Now I learn you had already decided to send me out to be taught my role before you denied any plan to me. My dear, the hole you're digging around yourself keeps getting deeper."

Michelle stepped in. "I'll teach you to go a tiny bit further than you normally would go. You get used to it, then we take the next step. We would go on until it's safe enough for Marion and Helena to take part in these lessons. They need to start learning, too, working with you and I."

"And how many tiny steps further will you take?"

"We'll go no further than you let me. You set the limits, if we reach one I turn to another path to take you somewhere else. I'll never cross an absolute limit, Rob; with other limits I'll always talk to you first before trying to test them. If these are things you're afraid to try, we can, well, we can at least try them. We'll go slowly, but after each session I promise your orgasms will be so strong you'll think you're going to pass out."

"I must participate in sex?" Rob knew the answer, but it had to be made plain.

She gave him an odd look, he made it sound unwanted. "Oh, yes. Helena gave us permission. It wouldn't be fair to you, to tease you as I shall, but never give you release. So yes, we'll have sex, in many forms."

Rob gave Helena a long look. She didn't speak up so he did. "Helena has given you incorrect information. It appears she has forgotten I am insisting on no sexual contact with anyone but Helena, up until six months after the wedding."

Michelle tilted her head. "No one told me about that."

Helena said, "oh, come on Rob, you can't possible have meant that."

"Helena, you excel at selecting what to ignore from what I tell you. If this training is intended to include sexual contact, then the only way you can make it take place is to wait until six months after the wedding. That's in the updated written list of limits, the one you're to sign next weekend. Have you read it?"

After a pause he added, "I suppose you could cancel writing out agreements on limits -- and our engagement."

He turned back to Michelle. "Helena told you she'll be happy for me to have sex with you. I don't see where my reaction was considered. I put the six-month condition in place, prompted by the number of times Helena has given me over for another woman to use, without asking me. That's another way of saying Helena makes a promise I must keep." He took a step toward Helena. "If you hand me around like a toy too many times, Helena, the toy may not return to you."

She recovered, looked him in the eye. "It is not your place to question the judgment of a mistress."

This was a different discussion than Michelle had been expecting. "The training can't proceed with the usual set of rewards if there is to be no sexual contact."

Rob ignored her. "I've lost interest in this discussion. We're talking about what you want and why you imagine you want it. If you want my consent, one day you must get around to telling me why I should consent."

He stood, gave a polite smile to the two ladies and walked out.

Cathy found him, several minutes later, his computer open in a bedroom no one was using. "I'm supposed to bring you back to the discussion. But, Rob, I'm not sure I should. They told me what you said and I agree with you. I imagine Michelle does as well."

"I'm sorry, Cathy, but I won't come back today. This is a negotiation. I actually know a fair bit about negotiating, I like to imagine I'm good at it. It doesn't serve my strategy to return so quickly."

She winked. "I'd say you've been running rings around Helena. Marion is dizzy from it. She has no idea what's going on, she told me simply to tell you to obey. Well, here's something for you to obey: you do it your way, Tiger."

Chapter 29

Helena kept Rob by her side all day Sunday. Nothing further was said about training under Michelle, but he knew she was thinking. She took him to bed with her Sunday night, insisting they wear matching lingerie. She liked it just as much as Rob.

Helen and Rob had an appointment to size his wedding band Monday afternoon. He had finally relented and agreed he would wear a ring, starting with the engagement party. It was just a few days before the party, but the jeweler said he could adjust the sizing then engrave in two days.

After looking over options, Helena had decided to buy the same ring for Rob and all four women. It had a platinum center band, with 18 carat gold bands on either edge. Three smaller diamonds were on each side of the large, center diamond. It was a ring intended for a woman, but not obviously feminine. Rob liked it because the diamonds were recessed into the platinum; only the larger one protruded slightly above the metal.

Monday night Marion joined them in the bedroom. Marion got her share first, she had waited a long time. She was practically ready to tear her own clothes off for him. She couldn't let herself do such a thing, no mistress would. She had to wait until they decided it was bedtime. When they reached the bedroom, she quickly dropped her skirt and jumper, showing Rob a new corset which thrust her breasts at him. Her first two orgasms came quickly. After well over an hour in which all had their pleasure, they fell asleep with Rob between Helena and Marion.

Tuesday morning Rob came to breakfast dressed in a suit. He had an appointment with Helena's solicitor, he explained.

"Must you go?" Helena still felt uncertain about him, she could not suppress the idea he would leave and not return.

"I'm to review the final prenuptial agreement. I have a business meeting Wednesday morning and I have yet to confirm, I may be out Thursday afternoon. I'll be away a half-day or less each of those days."

Marion and Helena had been asking him to wear the corset that went with his bridal gown every day. He wore it in the house, but he wasn't willing to leave the house wearing a corset that changed how his male clothes fit, he was going to business meetings.

In the few days left before the engagement party, without asking each other, both Rob and Helena began to feel they had reconciled. The only open question was whether Michelle would train him.

Friday afternoon, Marion asked Rob to come into Helena's library. There were three chairs before the fireplace, Marion insisted he sit in the center chair. Helena came in a few minutes later and took the chair Rob's left, Marion was already seated on his right. Helena came straight to the point. "We must come to an agreement about this training we want for you."

"We must." Saying these words, Rob understood Helena meant he should accept what she wanted. He was still trying to discuss what would be agreed.

Marion's voice came from his right. "You must understand we know what's best for you, far more than you possibly can. This training will make you more familiar with all that happens in a session. It will give you the confidence you lack. Your principal fault is you don't believe you can endure what you must endure. We tell you to have courage, but you show none."

Helena spoke on his left. "Darling, with more experience, you'll be more comfortable when we get together to play a game. I want you to get more experience. I want you to stop having a fit every time it stings too much. The best way for you to get more experience is to go to a mistress with lots of experience. Cathy will tell you the same thing."

Then Marion again. "Your role in this relationship is to obey the wishes of your mistress. If I want something for you, you have no decision to make, you will submit."

Up to this point he'd simply sat in place, letting them say what they wished. Marion's words, however, required a response. He took care to keep his voice calm. "If, Marion, if I had a mistress, I might have an agreement with her on the circumstances in which my obedience could reasonably be expected. However, I have no mistress."

"You have no say in the matter, the mistress chooses the slave."

He understood putting him between them, subjecting him to a Wimbledon of persuasion, was just a tactic, done with no subtlety at all. It was time to respond with something similar. He rose, stepped before Marion and leaned down, their faces inches apart. "I have no mistress." These fours words came out slowly, each emphasized. As he spoke he could see her eyes blink when puffs of his breath hit her. "Right now, I'd say I'll never have a mistress. If I have no say in the matter, then the mistress who chooses me does so at her peril."

He stayed close to her, coolly looking her in the eye, for an uncomfortably long time. He turned, stepping just as close to Helena. He spoke in a whisper, as though a secret between the two of them. "I'm sure you recall the reasons I gave for not having a mistress."

He stood by the fireplace mantel. "Now, you'll likely find me better prepared to listen if you abandon the amateur dramatics. Say something useful."

What they had to say wasn't what Rob considered useful. They gave all the arguments he'd already heard. He noted they were still focused on what they wanted and why, they'd not made any effort to think on reasons he should be willing. He stood there, letting them talk, listening, engaged to encourage them to keep talking, but giving little weight to what they said. Blinded by their focus on having their wishes met, they weren't working with him, just giving him their view. They certainly weren't prepared to listen.

The irony, he saw, was he might once have agreed to visit Michelle. He might have paid her for the privilege. He'd been impressed her skill as a mistress was more about subtlety than strength or the number of things she could do. She'd caused him brief pain, no injury at all. He'd thought Marion skilled, he now saw she was a piker in comparison. Michelle had also shown an ability to make something from nothing, she'd taken the foolish claptrap the four women had given her to ask of him and woven them into a showcase of her skills.

The idea wasn't objectionable, it had its appeal. But under the circumstances it was quite impossible. First, his loyalty was still to Helena, deserved or undeserved. With Helena in the picture, he wouldn't go willingly to another mistress, especially one who'd started out by stalking him. If he went, there would be some very strict limitations in place.

He also had a precedent to establish. This was his opportunity to establish his right to participate in this sort of discussion, hear them speak and be heard himself, before a decision affecting him was made. If he went, Helena and Marion - especially Marion - must each pay some price simply to establish in their minds negotiation, not commands, would characterize any games they played.

It bothered him Michelle called him special during the session. That was a warning. He hadn't liked seeing Cathy struggling to get over what she, herself, had predicted. It seemed to him Cathy still loved him. He doubted she would give up the independence of her own home and office, her own, paying submissives, without some inducement beside a circle of friends. Helena wasn't so cruel as to use him as bait to add women to her circle, she was simply too self-centered to see it all worked exactly that way.

Rob was looking for the right time to tell her all these things. The right time would not have Marion present.

Rob listened to them talk for over an hour before Helena began speaking more openly about her motivations. "I was afraid you would leave me. I am still afraid. I need a way to bind you to me. A commitment to Marion, Cathy and Kim would not have been enough to keep you with me, something more was required. We talked about you over dinner one night, Marion, Kim, Cathy and I. We talked about what to do to make life interesting enough for you to want to stay, because we knew you would get bored after a time. When we talked about the games, we realized they were both an attraction and a risk.

"We struck on two solutions. First, we thought we could reduce the risk of your anger in a game through training. We would train to become better mistresses. More skilled, yes, but primarily better judgment. Your training would help you better understand what's being done in a session. At the hands of a highly capable mistress, your training would give us a much clearer idea of your true limits. Your training would give you more comfort with what we might do in our play.

"The second solution came when the word family was used in our discussion. You know where that led." She reached out to him, but he didn't take her hand. "Rob, we got just a little manic about it, nothing we did was given enough thought. We shall save the question of family for another time all of us sitting together in the living room, talking like adults."

"Helena, you have quite spoilt your solutions by presenting them to me in the way you did. As for my boredom, stop thinking of me as a child who requires supervision to stay out of mischief. I'm an adult, we're to marry soon. My marriage to Jenny became a failure in the end, after many years. I didn't leave Jenny, she left me. I worry the marriage before us is starting off on a far less stable basis. I worry you adding still more complications harms our stability."

Helen seemed to give up at the point. "Well, now we've said everything in our hearts to you. You must now to give it thought. You'll be inspired by your experience at the party tomorrow. You remember what we talked about? You will obey me?"

"We talked about your plan for the party and my roles. I agreed to do what you asked."

"You promised to obey me during the party, obey me in everything."

She was nearly saying outright she had more planned than she'd told him, surprises. "I made no such promise. Complete obedience is impossible for anyone. I'll do as you ask within reason, but I cannot, I will not, promise absolute obedience. I'm not made that way."

Marion leaned toward him. "Rob, you simply must be obedient! Helena has such nice things planned."

Five minutes earlier he was tiring of standing, thinking he'd take a seat again. When Helena spoke he was glad he could look from one to the other without turning his head too quickly. "Rob, everything we talked about, the personal service to the women who ask, serving, with some help, the demonstrations. You've been told what to do, what to wear, when to change. Will you renew your promise to obey me?"

"I affirm the promise I gave when we went over your program for the party. At that time, I promised to do the things you told me about for the party. I make no commitment whatever for the surprises you might add." There would be no blanket promise no matter how carefully Helena crafted the question.

The talk, or perhaps harangue, went on for another several minutes. Rob steadfastly refused to modify the promises he'd already given. Finally, he wanted to cut off the discussion, it was just upsetting him. "Have you reviewed the video from that weird session you put me into with Michelle? You told me to obey her in everything. What did she say about my not obeying?"

"I said you were an upstart who should be put in his place." Michelle stood in the doorway, still taking off her overcoat. She dropped the coat on a chair by the door as she came in to join them. "Sorry I'm late, Helena, I was held up." She turned to Rob again. "You must obey Helena at the party tomorrow, Rob or I'll punish you most severely once I have you in my dungeon." She glared at him, her expression fierce, predatory, as though she wanted to begin his punishment immediately.

"I thought you don't bring past deeds into the session."

"If I tell my slave in advance I'll punish, then you understand a scene in multiple sections will play out over some days. Or, you will when you're training with me." She took a quick step toward him as though she was ready to chase him down.

Rob held his ground and held her eyes, his face calm. "It seems your approach is different than it was on the weekend. What's changed?"

Only because he was already looking directly at her, Rob thought a look of discomfort pass over her face, just for an instant. She answered without hesitation. "I've a better understanding of your situation. I understand Helena's as well, we've talked about you. Now the more appropriate path is clear."

He turned to Helena. "You have all the promises you're going to get."

They pressed him for a few minutes more, then Helena suggested drinks before dinner. Rob did not join them. He went to a local pub for dinner, to him sitting among laughing men and women on a Friday night was more relaxing, quieter than dining with three of them. What was Helena up to this time?

In an effort to push the point home, he disappeared, going up to sleep in the attic again.

Chapter 30

Saturday morning, dressing in his regular bedroom to take the dogs out for their morning walk, Helena opened the connecting door. She didn't ask where he'd slept. She did try once more for a promise to obey her. She urged him to behave. "Rob, be strong, be honest and think of all we've been through to get here."

"I tell you this: the long, painful discussions about Michelle have soured my attitude. You can abandon any hope of the obedience you'd been hoping for today. I'll attend this party, I'll make a good show of it, but I will attend on my terms. I'll be a good host, I'll help help with bringing coffee round and such, but that is all you can rely on."

"Carmen will arrive quite soon to prepare you."

"I won't need any help, I can manage, thank you."

"But you need help with your make-up and things."

Rob gave her a cold look. "You've lost that. I will attend in a suit. Do you want polite and friendly Rob in a suit or surly Rob in a dress and that ridiculous other stuff you want on me? You planned all manner of fun today. I do want you to enjoy yourselves, but not at my expense. I'll stand beside you as a man. If people don't like that, they can bugger off!"

Helena was beaten and she knew it. Silently, she left the room.

A car Rob recognized pulled into the car park in the late morning. Michelle stepped out of her car, dressed quite casually. He opened the kitchen door to welcome her in the shorter way, instead of by the more formal back door into the entry hall.

"It seems the first guest has arrived."

"Not just a guest. Did you not know you would meet me today in a more formal role?"

"Not as a domina, I hope. I'd prefer you as just one of the guests."

"No, no. I'm a solicitor; you're to sign documents today with me as the official witness and notary."

"Helena said there are female notaries. I should have done better research."

"What do you mean Rob?"

"I asked Helena's security organization to look at you. I have to admit, I wasn't interested in what work you did during the business day. I wanted to know about your relationship with the S&M world. From the first day we met, I knew you were involved in something S&M related."

Michelle chuckled. "And I did a background check on you. I wanted to know if I could trust you. I suspected one day we would be together."

"Together? What kind of relationship do you imagine we have?"

"I have clients who are married to a woman they love, yet still quite close to me. I told you I worked at bumping into you. The man who brought down Iris, that's very intriguing for a mistress like me. Once we talked, the more I knew, the less I could resist you. On the first day we met I fell for you. Then you introduced me to Helena and Marion. You brought your own doom into the circle!"

Rob didn't respond. He was finding it easier to feel truly indifferent to threats like this.

Helena asked Rob to come to help her in the dining room. Michelle followed to see if she could help. The three of them rearranged tables and brought out more chairs. They set a table in the center of the living room where they would sign the documents. As they worked, Michelle said, "I told Rob I was the notary, he had no idea."

"Some things seem to pass him completely by," Helena replied. "Well, Rob, as long as you do what you promised, I must be satisfied."

"It now seems unlikely I'll do all you want of me today." Rob left them and walked to his bedroom, his dogs by his side. He took a dark-blue suit from his wardrobe, a white shirt, a rose-colored, foulard tie. Dressed, he looked in the mirror and thought he looked okay.

It was another irony, he knew, that it was unusual for him to dress as a man for a formal party. He won't be meeting the expectations of the guests, At least now, with more than one guest present, Helena couldn't scold him too harshly. He walked downstairs, passed a few guests, he recognized Olga and Lisa. He greeted Kate with a kiss.

Lisa stopped him. "You won't be wearing wear the dress we chose and prepared out so carefully?"

"There has been a change of plans. Appearing in a bridal gown has been set aside. I'm here primarily so Helena doesn't have to disappoint guests again."

Rob entered the living room presenting a calm face. Cathy, Kim and Carmen came over to him when he entered. Cathy took his arm, leading him down the corridor to the far wing of the house. She thought she knew what was wrong. "What about your beautiful gown? And the look on your face tells me something has changed. I'm almost your wife, tell me, dear."

"This decision that Helena will not be my mistress, none of the four of you. Decisions taken by a cabal of women without consulting me. Helena didn't even tell me about the decision after it was made, the new mistress announced it. In her defense, Michelle was shocked I hadn't been told. Both of us are unimpressed. That comes on the heels of this bollocks about someone wanting a child with none of them having the sense to realize it's not a question to ask during a scene. What crap!" Rob was reliving all the things which had angered him over the past three weeks. He might have dealt with them individually, but once again the challenges had all been delivered in a short period of time.

Cathy had taken his verbal onslaught like punches to the gut; every word Rob said hit her hard. When he mentioned the child, tears began rolling down her cheeks.

He noticed late and extended his arms to hold her. "Cathy, I'm sorry to dump on you like this. The heart of this is I won't marry Helena if she isn't going to take responsibility herself for our relationship."

He gave her his handkerchief; she dried her eyes. "I am sorry you feel this way," She told him. "I'm even sorrier to say you're right. We do too many things to you instead of with you. As a group, we make these things bigger and bigger, squeezing still more ideas in until the plan is bloated. When we gather around her, we enable Helena to act like a corporate manager instead of a fiancée." She grabbed his elbow, her grip tight, her voice intense. "But I really think these issues would not get out of hand if Helena was independent instead of - what did you call us? - part of a cabal. Marry Helena, Rob, you're good for each other. Leave the rest of us behind."

"I wouldn't want to do that to you, you're all so invested in this."

"Marion's invested, I'm still deciding if I'll invest. Kim just wants to play. Rob, what about the party today?"

"I'm going to behave, but I refused to promise I'd obey Helena's every whim. She showed me a list, I agreed to what's on the list. If we are to marry, at least this event will have taken place. If we don't marry, we won't be the first couple to break up after the engagement party."

They went together back as far as the entry hall, then separated. Rob wanted to find Michelle. He found her where he'd expected her, standing at her table, her briefcase open. She was dressed for the party now. Some guests he didn't recognize were already in the room.

Michelle glanced up, seeing him approach. The look on his face didn't promise anything good.

"Where are the documents I must sign?"

She gestured to her briefcase.

"Give me a pen, I'll deal with it now and then I can leave this happy event!"

"Sorry, you must sign together and before the witness.

"Rob, are you angry about what I said? Please, please forget it, all of it. I refuse, I won't ever be your mistress. You're right, this is the wrong way to go about it, I won't participate."

Instead of answering, he whistled for Inca and Nicky, took his overcoat and left the house by the back hall. He thought no one followed him. But a slender woman came out the kitchen door, pulling on her dark jacket as she ran to catch up. She had seen his anger. She was among the few who could approach him without fear no matter his mood.

"Rob stop! You can't walk away."

"I can and I will. You can't stop me, Sylvia."

She caught him, her hand on his arm. "Id prefer not, but yes, I can stop you. Seeing you like this, it must another disagreement. This time I noticed you had words with Cathy and Michelle as well. Helena too, I assume, I haven't seen her yet this morning. So what's up? I'm your friend, I've shown this more than once, you can tell me."

Rob told her about the questions Michelle had asked in the session, the stupid idea of asking him to father a child and, now foremost in his thinking, Michelle revealing she would become his mistress.

"Oh, Rob. Must you be so harsh with them? If you can't make up with them, you should just separate for good and take responsibility for the separation. I won't say you're wrong, I can understand your viewpoint, but you simply must forgive them." She gave him an evil grin. "If I were you, I'd order them to present themselves in your dungeon and give them all a beating. Don't they just need to understand who is the boss, that you won't accept being treated this way?"

"I planned punishing them with a beating a few months ago, but I couldn't bring myself to hit any of them. It's not my nature." He shook his head. "And I've been punished three times for hitting them when I didn't." It was his turn for an evil grin. "Maybe I should abandon them and marry you."

Her sudden intake of breath surprised him. "Don't make jokes at my expense!" He was surprised to hear sorrow in her voice. "Don't tease me, it's not fair. You should know I told Helena I wanted you for myself for 30 minutes during the party; she agreed."

Rob looked at Sylvia with new eyes. "I never imagined you could be interested in me. You're strong, so independent. You're beautiful. I imagine you can have any man you wanted, which rules me out. You always kept your professional distance. Sylvia, I'm sorry, I had no idea." He took her in his arms and was surprised to find her returning the embrace, holding him close for a long time.

He let go and stepped back. "Don't think I find you undesirable, but it was Helena said you could have time with me. As I've said to another woman who's here today, imagine your ex telling his friends they could spent a night with you and you find out only because the friend tells you tonight's the night. How many would be too many?"

Her face turned solemn. "When the time comes, I'll ask you if you're willing. Right now, Rob, you must decide, are you really ready to give up the love of your life? You have two hours before the formalities. I suggest you make a decision. You're angry for a few days, it will soon pass, your anger has always passed. You've loved her steadily for over a year."

Rob looked around, scarcely seeing the beautiful land surrounding Helena's house. He was thinking about Helena, her warm arms around him, the fun they had, her humor and her tenderness, the problems they'd faced and handled together.

"You win." He grumbled.

"No, Rob. You win. Go back to her and do what is necessary. If she wants you to wear a dress, wear it. No one will laugh, we all know you're not wearing a dress as a joke. I respect you, it takes real courage to let us see you vulnerable."

"All right. Will you help me with my corset? I know it's a bit intimate but apparently we're to be intimate tonight in any event or so you tell me."

"If you need me, Rob, for anything, I am already here for you. You are the most protected person here." She pointed at Nicky and Inca. "These sweeties plus me. You're quite special."

Chapter 31

They went back inside, taking the kitchen stair up to his bedroom. Carmen, expecting the original plan to be followed, had laid everything out on the bed: lingerie, stockings, corset, petticoat and gown.

As he stripped down, Sylvia said she had to speak with Helena. Rob pointed to the connecting door to her bedroom. Sylvia tapped on the door and stepped through. Seconds later he saw Helena, not yet in her dress.

"You're back! I'm so relieved. Rob, I apologize again. We've lots to talk about - as adults. There are no firm plans for anything. If we make plans then 'we' means you and I, together. The others might contribute suggestions. And I am firmly committed to our relationship, I've been a fool again."

She kissed Silvia on the cheek. "Thank you dear, for bringing him back, again. You're a real treasure."

"Don't thank me, he decided. I just told him he had to participate or drop the engagement and accept the consequences. It's not fair to leave everyone here waiting until he decides."

Helena turned to him with an appraising look. "What made you come back?"

"Your laugh... Your tenderness... You." Rob kissed her. "I don't know how I'd live without you."

They held each other for a minute. Rob noticed Sylvia had stepped over to look out the window, giving them as much privacy as she could.

Helena stepped back. "Rob, listen, I promised Sylvia she could have 30 minutes of your time during the party. I know we agreed on no intercourse, but for Sylvia, I'd suggest you make an exception to the rule.

"I've known Sylvia for over 20 years, she was a true friend to me when I had no others. There were times when I owed my sanity to her; I owe her a great deal. She has never asked me for anything in return. We must pay a modest price for her bringing you back, twice now. Maybe I could join you, if you permit. Or better yet, how about letting Marion come too. It will be our party, but it would be late at night. I'm sure she will agree if she hears of our struggle."

Rob saw Sylvia was suddenly shy, now that she was invited to a crowded bed. It seemed clear such a crowd wasn't what she wanted. She'd rescued him, it was his turn to rescue her. "We'll figure it out later. We both owe something to Sylvia, she can set the terms of payment in her own time."

Sylvia gave him a grateful look, then it was back to business. "We haven't much time, Rob."

There was a knock on the door and Carmen looked in, immediately all business. "Anyone needing help? I see neither of you are dressed; we've only an hour left."

"Sylvia is helping Rob. You can help me. We'll come downstairs together, Rob and I."

Rob took a quick shower, Sylvia helped him to quickly dry. She was cool and professional again, unconcerned about his nudity.

Soon Rob was leaning against the wall for Sylvia to pull the cords to the corset. She was stronger than Lisa, pulling the corset tighter than Rob had ever experienced. He really showed a female figure. He protested, but Sylvia showed no mercy.

"Maybe when you have more of a woman's shape, you'll behave like a woman, show some empathy, some compassion to the ladies who care for you. This my way of punishing you for letting them down!" Rob had quite a lot he might say about his experience with empathy from women. But he kept his mouth shut, he knew better than to annoy Sylvia.

Rob had an hourglass figure, wide hips and even a bit of cleavage. Rob couldn't bend over to fix his stockings to the suspender belt so Sylvia rolled the stockings up his legs and attached them to the clips. The stockings were black, the rest of his lingerie was black with pink lace: the padded bra, the suspender belt, the French knickers and his corset.

Then his favorite piece of lingerie, the petticoat, pink with black lace around the hem.

Then finally- the pink bridal gown. Sylvia had not seen it yet. "This is beautiful! You'll be the belle of the ball. You look beautiful, I'd have never expected this. The shop owner is here today? I'll give her my compliments, this gown is simply gorgeous."

She couldn't believe what she saw. Below Rob's male face, the shape of his body was female: wide hips, slender waist, a bust and long legs; a feast for the eye.

Rob took a few steps toward his mirror, he saw the petticoat was always visible. He could put his leg forward and to the side, a pose he'd seen models take, a hint of the lace top of his stockings could be seen. It was a very sexy sight.

Sylvia was feeling more comfortable with him. She ran her hand up his leg. "Hm! Not entirely female, I feel something quite manly."

Rob just smiled, all the satin and lace on his body had aroused him. Sylvia had only made it worse. "Okay, shoes. I have ankle boots and ankle strap heels to go with the dress. What do you think?"

Sylvia brought them both out, they agreed the ankle boots would look good and were more practical. Rob sat on the bed so Sylvia could place them on his feet and pull the zips. Rob could not possibly have reached down to put on his own shoes.

"What about the wig and make-up?" Sylvia gave Rob a speculative look.

"What do you think I should do?"

"We have time and everything's laid out. I can attach the eyelashes, your wig is here." This wig, auburn-colored and longer, he'd not seen before. It looked like it would fall to his shoulders. Simple and elegant, it was quite a contrast to that outrageous red thing in the dungeon. Apparently Helena toned it down for him.

He sat, mind drifting, as Sylvia efficiently glued on false eyelashes. She shaped his eyebrows and applied pale gray eye shadow above and below his eyes. A little rouge on his cheeks, a light gloss on his lips and when Rob looked in the mirror, he hardly recognized himself. With a very subtle touch Sylvia had changed him into a female version of himself. From a distance it was not apparent he was a man. Amazed, Rob thanked her. He had no idea Sylvia was capable of doing this -- he had no idea such a thing was possible.

"Well! Someone's in good hands." Carmen, in the connecting doorway, gave Sylvia an approving smile and disappeared back to tend to Helena.

Sylvia checked her watch. "It's nearly time, I'll see how Helena is doing."

Sylvia opened the connecting door, immediately saying, "Ooh!" Rob knew Helena must be wearing something special as well.

Sylvia returned. "We'll go downstairs in just a minute. Let's face the crowd." They stepped out into the corridor and waited in front of Helena's bedroom door. The door opened and Carmen came out, leading Helena.

Helena wore a dress like his, but in yellow with black lace. While short in front, hers was so long at the back a bit of a train trailed on the floor. She was beautifully made up; her face was mysterious, even a bit dark. Sexy! Rob had no other word to describe her.

"I should love to see your face made-up like this more often, you're so beautiful." Rob kissed his fiancée.

"Ha! I want the same." Helena gave the bright, carefree laugh Rob had heard so often and liked so much, the laugh he'd returned to hear again.

Helena was looking at Rob's face, She couldn't believe what she saw. "Sylvia, are you sure you're my security agent, not my stylist? You are full of surprises." Sylvia blushed from the compliment as they hugged.

Rob gave Helena his arm, Carmen straightened Helena's train, Sylvia walked in front of them. Carefully they stepped slowly down the stair. Helena sighed with relief when they reached the floor of the entrance hall. Helena wore outrageously high heels, much higher than Rob's ankle boots, but she managed to walk on them without apparent effort. Carmen handed Helena a bouquet of red roses, Rob just one to carry. They walked to the living room, where the ceremony and signing the contracts were the first event of the party.

When the large, dark-wooden doors to the living room were opened, all the guests stood along the walls. Softly the sound of Pachelbel's Canon in D began to play. Helena entered with Rob just behind her, drawing a sigh of admiration from the guests. Rob recognized a few of the guests, but most were unfamiliar.

All of the women were formally dressed. Some women wore dresses like those worn in the fifties, with petticoats clearly visible; other women wore elegant dresses, some wide, some narrow, some lace, some satin. Every color could be seen, black, blue, red, white, green and purple. They all had done their best to look as beautiful as possible.

Hand in hand Helen and Rob walked forward, until they stood before table where the notary was to speak with them.

Michelle wasn't there, Rob had no idea if she or a colleague would be there as representative of the solicitor. Three of the guests brought chairs and placed them in front of the table.

The music changed into Wagner's Bridal Chorus. Rob and Helena turned to see Marion approaching. She was astonishing in a satin dress covered with lace and beading. Double strands of pearls were festooned around her waist. Like Helena, her dress had a train. Marion's waist was narrow and her breasts were lifted, she must have been wearing a very tight corset. The rose bouquet she carried has variegated petals, pink tips and red at the base, complementing her off-white gown perfectly. Cathy escorted her, beautifully dressed in a calf-length, black satin evening dress. She wore black boots with very high heels, making her appear taller than Marion. Behind Cathy, Kim walked in wearing a midnight blue dress with a wide skirt, white lace from the petticoat peeking out.

Rob hadn't seen Michelle in the corner of the room, she stepped to the table just a few seconds after Marion's arrival. Before she could begin, Rob leaned to her, beckoning. Michelle stepped to his side, he spoke to her in a whisper. "Before you start I must apologize. What I said to you was wrong. I sincerely hope you will accept my apology."

"I am asking for 30 minutes of your time. During my 30 minutes time I shall require you to apologize more thoroughly." She quirked an eyebrow to him, giving him a slight smile. His frown in response alerted her things might not go as planned over the evening.

Sylvia appeared beside Rob, handing him the rings. Michelle returned to her place behind the table. She took out a sheet of paper and spent a few seconds reading. She set the page down, took off her glasses. She gave Rob, Helena and Marion an encouraging look, confirming they were all ready.

"Ladies and - Rob. Normally I would say ladies and gentlemen, but as you are the only gentleman here, I can address you directly by name." She drew a bit of laughter.

"Before we commence the signing of the contract, I want to say something about these five lovely people. About their love for each other and their struggle to become a family, because it is a struggle. We all fantasize about how it would be if we had an extra partner. Of course, great sex comes quickly to mind." The laughter revealed some embarrassment among those watching.

"But the reason to join together is love, deep love. You cannot give up your house and freedom and live with two friends, unless you love each of them, deeply. You do make sacrifices to join together, as these five, especially Rob and Helena, have come to understand. I have seen them struggle, it's been hard work to reach this happy day. A quarrel now and then, assumptions made by one not so obvious to another. But, if three people, one day it will be five people, really care for each other, love each other, then with effort they can make it work.

"I have seen for myself the love among these good people, pure love, a love shown by sharing themselves without jealousy. I must say I envy their love, because whenever something happened to push them apart, they've always reconciled and pulled back together. Today they're taking the first step toward formalizing this relationship, by celebrating the engagement of Rob to Helena. This is the first of many steps; there are five friends here who will share in this family. There are contracts to be signed, all that boring stuff. Only a solicitor could take pleasure in the paperwork." She paused. "Fortunately, I'm a solicitor."

After quiet laughter, Michelle continued. "Before we do the boring stuff, let's do something more fun: their rings. Rings are symbols for the love they have. But the love they share is not a symbol, their love is real.

"Rob, please give Helena her ring."

Carefully Rob slid the ring over Helena's finger, then kissed her.

"Helena, please give Marion her ring."

Rob handed Helena the ring, which she slid over Marion's finger. She kissed Marion full on her mouth.

"Marion, please give Rob his ring."

Carmen stepped forward and handed Marion a ring. She slid it on Rob's finger and gave him a kiss.

"Now a surprise. Helena has rings for Cathy and Kim as well."

Cathy and Kim came forward, a little flustered to have been included. Rob handed Helena a ring to put on Kim's finger at the same time he put a ring on Cathy's. When he realized he'd been caught in a moment, looking into her eyes as he slid a ring on her finger, he wasn't sure if it had been two seconds or two hours.

Michelle continued. "Now you will each step forward and sign the papers. Helena, would you sign first please?" Helena signed two documents, the prenuptial agreement and his limits. Rob signing the two documents as well. Michelle then signed the prenuptial agreement and set it aside. She called Marion, Cathy then Kim in succession to sign the limits agreement as well.

Chapter 32

When the signing was finished, Michelle said, "Helena, Rob, I suggest you have the first kiss of your engagement." Rob and Helena, by unspoken agreement, then made a point of going around the circle, embracing and kissing each of the other three ladies.

Carmen and Sylvia stepped forward to congratulate them, followed by each of the guests. In no time, there was a party underway instead of a formal ceremony. Everyone was talking, guests walked in and out of the room. Cathy led Rob, Helena and Marion to the dining room, where Kim was rolling in a trolley with a wedding cake. Together, Marion, Helena and Rob make the first cut into the cake, then Kim and Cathy took over with slicing and serving.

Every guest wanted to meet and admire Helena's fiancée. Women Rob knew, women he didn't know, all came up to give him a kiss. He was uncertain about himself at first, but as time passed he felt more secure. No one teased him, on the contrary, one beautiful woman named Elisa, a widow perhaps in her late fifties, said quite the opposite. "I think you're adorable. I regret I didn't try this at least once with my late husband. It's sexy, it's fun and it's a feast for the eyes." She squeezed his hand. "Listen, no one here doubts you are man enough; it takes real courage to stand before a crowd like this. I'd like to speak with you, may I have a bit of private time with you?" With a smile she walked on to greet Helena, Rob's attention immediately taken by another guest.

As the task of greeting well-wishers reached its end, Michelle pulled Rob aside. "I've already forgiven you. I know how the tension can lead people to say things they don't mean. I do feel we have a strong bond and I really hope, you will accept me as your Mistress. I should be very disappointed if you should reject me. I really like you, no, I love you. I care for you; we've so much in common."

"There was a time I'd have happily agreed. At present, I have many reasons to refuse any mistress. These games are about sex. I'm sorry, but I'm sticking to my rule, to protect myself as much as Helena. There is to be no sex, which I suspect would leave these scenes unsatisfactory, even for you."

"Rob, there must be sex. Sometimes between you and I, sometimes with Marion or Helena, who knows, maybe another sub. We can talk it out, make a detailed agreement of the things we do and more importantly, what we'll not do, I'll even write another contract. Will you accept me?"

In her eyes, Rob saw compassion, but also longing. "The rule of no sexual contact is not negotiable. Second, you should find out from Helena how I feel about Marion. Only when you fully understand Marion can you return to discuss the question."

Michelle nodded, then kissed him. "Rob, I want to make love with you this evening. I know you can't have intercourse, but make me happy. Whenever you have some time, just give me a sign, we'll withdraw someplace. Maybe we could take a walk first?"

"A walk outside is a good idea. Afterwards I'll attend to - what Helena wishes." He wasn't feeling all that enthusiastic, now that the reality of what his promise was before him.

Helena appeared by his side. "I have some friends you haven't met yet. They're dying to speak with you."

When Michelle was far enough away, Helena had a question. "It appears you've made up with her. Do you accept her?"

His face was bland, but his low voice was stern. "Don't spoil your own party by getting pushy. No decision has been made. I told her I don't hold her at fault for your miscommunication. From my viewpoint, she shouldn't even be allowed into our playroom."

"Maybe she wants to use her own dungeon."

He grimaced. "Then you've made it even more difficult to get my agreement."

"Didn't you know? You can be so innocent. Of course has she a dungeon of her own. I'm eager for you to experience a tour, in detail."

It was time to change the subject. "What friends must I meet?"

"I just wanted to know what you were discussing. You know I've promised you to her?"

He leaned close to her and spoke quietly in her ear. "I have never chosen on my own to fuck any other woman. You've managed to force me or trick me a time or two, it was not voluntary."

"It's okay. You're to be my husband. I want to spend many nights with you, the rest of my life, with you hard." It seemed clear to Rob she thought she could do things to get him hard whenever she wanted.

Marion's long train seemed to be challenging her as she came slowly over to them. She pulled her skirt up a bit. "You still have something blue to remove..."

Rob sat, Marion sat beside him. He took her leg over his lap, Helena supporting her. Rob slipped her blue garter down her leg. He caressed her leg, also clad in black nylons and went higher with his hands, until he felt her pussy. She was wet.

"You aren't wearing knickers, you're so naughty!"

Helena coughed quietly.

Rob put his hand on Helena's ankle and slipped upwards. Like Marion, no knickers and a wet pussy.

"You really are my ladies." Rob laughed as Cathy came to them.

"Did you leave your knickers in your bedroom too, like Helena and Marion?"

She gave him a knowing smile. "I understood it was the dress code. Didn't you?

"I think some of the other women here may not be wearing them either." Helena's smile was suggestive. "It will be a bit hot this evening. I understand about half of them plan to stay overnight; nearly every bedroom will be occupied. There are no taxi's ordered, in any event."

Rob had one guest to ask about. "Tell me how you know Elisa."

"She is one of my oldest friends. She had a wonderful husband, a gentle man as well as a gentleman. I knew him well. He passed away four years ago. Elisa and I always stayed in contact. I've told her quite a bit about you, Rob. I'm sure she will have a good time here, in fact she brought her girlfriend with her." She laughed at Rob's reaction. "Don't be so shocked Rob. Many women have latent lesbian tendencies. Why not? She's happy and I am glad for her."

Cathy spoke to him. "We've prepared a little surprise for you. No, no, don't get excited, it isn't S&M related, on the contrary. We want you in the living room at nine precisely. You'll just sit and relax, we'll do everything."

Helena repeated her instructions. "You must do your best for the women who want your attention. I suggest you use your own bedroom, I've already provided some dildos and vibrators in the bedside table. You can wear whatever you like, but I do want to see you in your French Maid's outfit. I bought a new one especially for this occasion. I'd love for all of us to see you in it. I promise, you won't regret it!"

"Helena! You can be so manipulative, I must speak with you about it." But he gave her a grin.

"Bridget seems to know a lot of the guests here." Rob had noticed her making her way toward them, slowed by greeting women she obviously knew. Which of them had purchased theater and costume items, which sex toys and fetish wear?

Bridget kissed Marion first and congratulated her; then Helena and finally Rob. She gave him her hand, pulling upward to make sure he understood he was to kiss her hand.

"Thank you, Rob. I'm glad you do have some manners! One of the few men with any redeeming virtues at all." She leaned down to hug him, whispering softly in his ear. "I really would like you to come back to my place. You can ignore me, but I won't ignore you!" He was startled to feel her lick his ear.

Cathy and Helena saw a sudden red flush on his face, but Bridget continued as if nothing had happened. "Helena and Marion, why don't you visit both of my shops together with Rob. I'll show Rob some interesting new lingerie and he can decide what he wants. Upstairs, I can show you some new ideas." She saw the look on Rob's face. "Not frightening things, I know how timid you are, I have a few new items which are actually very innocent. There is a simple love-making seat, for example, with a few notable enhancements."

"I'd like to see that, wouldn't, you Rob?" Helena tweaked him for his aversion to Bridget.

Rob shrugged. It wasn't his experience had been unpleasant. He didn't trust a woman who presumed she could drag him into a scene and do what she wished -- as Bridget had done. Still, he no longer had reason to fear if the other ladies were with him, not now they'd all signed his agreement of limits. "At some point I'll come with Helena to visit."

"I'd expect just that of you Rob. We know each other so intimately now, you can try on lingerie as much as you want. But, in return I expect from you no more hard feelings. I want us to be really good friends."

"No hard feelings." Rob stood and gave her a hug. He whispered in her ear. "If you repeat a trick like you two did to me, you just watched Helena sign that she accepts the truly serious consequences she'll bear." He stepped back and gave her a broad smile, taking her hand to kiss again. Her face was calm, her smile perfect to the occasion, but Rob could see in her eyes she understood.

Helena smiled. "I'm glad you're okay again with each other."

Rob answered before Bridget could. "Just not as a mistress."

Marion took him by the arm. "Rob, come with me. I want you to meet two of my girlfriends."

Rob walked with her to two lovely women, perhaps in their late 30s.

"Rob, I want to introduce you to Simone and Karen. These are two of my dearest friends, they've found love with each other".

"Hello Rob, nice to meet you. I was one of the blur of people who've already congratulated you all, it's nice to have a chance speak without the press." Simone was an attractive woman with a neat appearance and dark mysterious eyes. The pink dress she wore clung to her figure. Rob could see the outline of her bra as well as small protrusions on her hips, indicating she wore suspenders.

She took his hand. Instead of shaking his hand, she pulled him towards her and kissed him on his cheek. She whispered in his ear, "I hope you have some time left on your agenda today?"

"I think so Simone, I'll let you know."

Karen hugged him. "So nice to meet you. Marion has told us so much about you. We've been curious to get to know you better. It was nice to see you in both a suit and in this gorgeous gown. Both are flattering, both have their uses, but the gown is perfect for this party."

Karen took his hand and tugged. "A quiet word?" Marion and Simone were talking, they didn't notice Karen and Rob take a step to separate themselves. Like Simone, Karen was very attractive. Her figure was somewhat fuller than Simone and her blue dress hinted at her cleavage. "I heard Simone asked for some time, would you consider entertaining Simone and I together? We can have a great time." She squeezed his hand. "I want you between my legs Rob, it's been too long for me. I like women, but there are times I want a man. Will you?"

"I think we can do that. Well - I do have an appointment after dinner, two women before dinner. I think I must make a dance card. Let me see..." He thought it over. "It seems there is some sort of surprise for me planned at nine. Can we go to my bedroom after the surprise?"

"I'd like it very much, I'm sure Simone will as well. Marion made it clear, you're forbidden to have intercourse. Too bad for you Rob, we'll have all the fun!"

"I'll get my reward when the time is right." He doubted she understood it was his restriction, not Helena's.

"Just the fact you'll be there is quite exciting." She laughed at his perplexed expression. "We just met, doesn't that make it more exciting? Until later, sweet." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

Marion stepped to Rob, a twinkle in her eye. "So, you've finally met two of my best friends. Jenny and I ran in the same crowd with them before I married John and you, Jenny."